Hi,

 

It's all in the topic title really,I just need some advice for my first overclock on the 2600K.

 

Normally I like to build my own PC's, but I picked up an Alienware Aurora R3 for next to nothing (was too hard for me to refuse!) and have added my own upgrades/components to make it what it is in my sig.

 

The Alienware came overclocked to 4.1Ghz but I wanted to go higher, so knowing what these chips can do I did some research and set off on my first overclock. Only thing I discovered was that the options actually open to me to change in the BIOS on the alienware are fairly limited, but I did find another thread elsewhere where someone had overclocked one of these: http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687628

 

So I embarked on my first overclock and I have now noted down settings for stable overclocks from 4.5Ghz through to 4.8Ghz (When I mean stable it means numerous runs of IBT and running Prime 95 Blend for 24 Hrs give or take). Given the limitations of the BIOS and the CPU Cooler (Corsair H50 with a fairly decent Delta Fan) I was fairly surprised how easy it was to overclock.

 

Now here comes my real question. The cooler Isn't great and I'm sure that because I don't have more control over my vcore it is affecting my temps. At the stock 4.1Ghz max temp was 69*C, 4.5Ghz was 71*C, 4.6Ghz was 77*C, 4.7Ghz was 79*C and 4.8Ghz was 82*C. (Note: all temps are while stress testing and Ambient temps were consistently between approx 22*C & 25*C, HT was also on).

 

I've since made some mods and adjusted the fan config on the radiator of the H50 so it is pulling cool air into the case. I had also previously made some mods to the top of the case and added 2 x 120mm fans to blow cool air in, but these have now been reversed to exhaust the hot air off the radiator. This very slightly dropped my temps at 4.8Ghz but not significantly.

 

So......

 

1 - What do you think of the temps at these overclocks, I know they are on the higher side and as per Word Not Allowed's guide they should be okay, but what is your opinion of these? Are they likely to shorten the length of my chip? I don't run this PC 24/7 as I have another more basic PC for that. This will be purely for FSX and gaming.

 

2 - From experience, is the jump from 4.5Ghz up to 4.8Ghz worth it performance wise in FSX? How much difference am I likely to see? The temparature increase while stress testing was fairly significant so I'm just wondering if it's worth it?

 

3 - What exactly is VID? While stress testing Real Temp would show this is approx 1.48-1.49. Is this high or dangerous?

 

If you guys can help my out, bearing in mind that I'm not looking to upgrade any hardware etc, but just looking for opinions purely based on what I have, it would be much appreciated.

 

I'm looking forward to putting this rig to good use with the new Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals I picked up yesterday! Man I'm lucky my wife doesn't mind me spending money to pursue my dream, lol

 

Hoping to get accepted into the RAAF later this year (I'm in the selection pool at the moment), so in the mean time I want to get in as much simming as possible and also try add a few hours to my log book.

 

Sorry for the long winded post.

 

Thanks in advance!

Turn off HyperThreading. AFAIK VID, is basicallyyour core voltage. You are giving your CPU way to high of voltage.

 

If you turn off HT you should only need 1.36-1.39volts for 4.8GHZ.

Thanks, thats what I thought it was but I was a little confused as CPU-Z was reporting Core Voltage as 1.368 volts but then VID in realtemp and AIDA 64 was reporting VID as 1.48 volts. Unfortunately the BIOS on this Alienware doesn't show me what the values are for voltages etc. It's a bit of a bummer but something I'll just have to live with for now.

 

I've read that HT does nothing for FSX, not sure about other games but if I can leave it on I think I'd rather do that for now, but time will tell if I change my mind. Am I correct that with HT off you need less voltage than if you have HT on? And lower voltages would then mean lower temps?

 

Do you have an thoughts on my temps etc? I know they are not as low as they could be but I think they are probably acceptable. What are your temps like?

CPU-Z is providing the correct Vcore reading ant, 1.368V

You can adjust Vcore in your BIOS, Advanced -> Dynamic CPU Vcore Offset, but apparently you can only increase it.

 

Those are OK temps and voltages, nice overclock!

Since I will soon be doing my first overclock, I would be interested if someone could address the 2nd question posed by ant_1984. Is the jump from 4.5Ghz up to 4.8Ghz worth it performance wise in FSX?

Since I will soon be doing my first overclock, I would be interested if someone could address the 2nd question posed by ant_1984. Is the jump from 4.5Ghz up to 4.8Ghz worth it performance wise in FSX?

 

That's subjective. It's just a 6-7%, but if you can make it with good temps and moderate Vcore, why not?

Is the jump from 4.5Ghz up to 4.8Ghz worth it performance wise in FSX?

 

With a good GPU, you will see about a 2-3FPS jump.

Thanks Dazz.

 

Ok well it's good to know that my Vcore of 1.368 according to CPU-Z is the measurement to go by. I'm still curious exactly as to what VID is. I've been googling but I can't really see a black and white answer to what it is. My understanding is that each individual chip will have a different VID but that's as far as I've got so far. Any ideas?

 

Also, does a temperature jump from 71*C at 4.5Ghz up to 82*C at 4.8Ghz sound about right? Just seems like a big jump for only 300Mhz. I know that under normal gaming the temps won't go this high but I'm just curious.

71*C at 4.5Ghz up to 82*C at 4.8Ghz sound about right?

 

It sounds about right to me.

It sounds about right to me.

71c @ 4.5 sounds a little high to me. My system at 4.6 goes no higher than 58C during Prime 95, that's @ 1.31V with an offset of -0.040.

Thanks Ben. :good:

 

Dicko, My temps are with HT on and also with not as good cooler as yours, hence why they are higher.

 

Cheers.

Thanks Ben. :good:

 

Dicko, My temps are with HT on and also with not as good cooler as yours, hence why they are higher.

 

Cheers.

Upgrade your cooler then, a small cost for longevity of your CPU.

Out of interest why is HT on? Overwhelming opinion in the flightsim community indicates HT does nothing for FSX apart from raising temperatures unnecessarily. In agreement with Ben on this one!

Hi dicko, I'm in Melbourne too.

 

Not interested in upgrading my cooler at the moment, I just want to achieve the best possible on the hardware I have.

 

I know HT shows no benefit in FSX but it does in other apps. Long term I may tinker and turn off HT and lower the voltages, but for the time being I might just leave it on and if I'm concerned with temps I'll either lower the overclock or turn HT off etc.

 

Your specs look pretty decent, you happy with the way FSX is running?

I just ordered a saitek pro flight yoke system off amazon to add to my new pedals and existing joystick. Can't wait to finally be all set up and do some flying.

Upgrade your cooler then, a small cost for longevity of your CPU.

Out of interest why is HT on? Overwhelming opinion in the flightsim community indicates HT does nothing for FSX apart from raising temperatures unnecessarily. In agreement with Ben on this one!

Most games and flight sims run perfectly @3.5.

 

Load up the NGX at FSDT KLAX and I bet you will think differently.

Done it with no single problems.

 

What settings are you running? I highly doubt that you are maintaining 30FPS at KLAX with the NGX with your CPU non-overclocked unless you are running low settings.